Welcome to Chicago! Plant Biology & Botany 2007—A Historic Event

ASPB News THE NEWSLETTER OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF PLANT BIOLOGISTS Volume 34, Number 3 May/June 2007

Inside This Issue Welcome to Chicago! Plant Biology & Botany 2007—A Historic Event Plant Biology & Botany 2007—Event Highlight Updates Dear ASPB Member, mittee and extensive networking opportunities for Some scientific events are memorable and others graduate students, postdocs, and others. The devel- Hola from Mérida! capture the imagination, but only a few—like ASPB’s opment of the next generation of plant scientists will Plant Biology 2008 2007 annual meeting—are truly historic. Indeed, it be highlighted through workshops for K–12 educa- will be my great pleasure to welcome many of you tors, who will have the opportunity to attend ses- Mid-Atlantic and this July to the Plant Biology & Botany 2007 Joint sions on Saturday. Midwest Section Congress in Chicago—the first time in more than We realize that some of you, for a variety of rea- Meeting Coverage eight decades that ASPB will hold its plant biology sons, have opted to spend those several days in early conference with the Botanical Society of America (as July engaged in other pursuits. Although we would well as with the American Society of Plant Taxono- have liked to see you in Chicago and will certainly mists and the American Fern Society). In just a miss your presence there, we understand and respect few weeks, 2,500 plant scientists from around that decision, particularly because whether or not the world—one of the largest gatherings of you are present, the scholarship that unfolds at the plant scientists ever—will have the opportuni- annual meeting necessarily depends on the contribu- ty to meet and engage their colleagues in a tions of all of you to the field. dynamic and stimulating environment So whether I can shake your hand in Chicago, that will nevertheless allow invite you to participate vicariously by reading sum- time for relaxed social interac- maries of the meeting in the ASPB News (or viewing tions. And in Chicago, to boot! a podcast or two), or simply share an e-mail or a At the Chicago congress, phone call, I look forward to an exchange. ASPB rel- young scientists will be able to ishes the opportunity to bring together and highlight focus attention on their future the contributions you all make. And because some of careers, beginning with our first- us won’t meet this year, we hope to see you at our ever laboratory leadership work- meetings in Mérida, Mexico (June 27–July 2, 2008), shop for postdocs and junior facul- and Honolulu (July 18–22, 2009), both of which ty (see http://www.aspb.org/ promise to be memorable—even historic—events. meetings/pb-2007/labmanagement.cfm). The meeting will also feature a pair of Cheers, career workshops organized by the Crispin Taylor, PhD ASPB Women in Plant Biology Com- Executive Director, ASPB The ASPB News is delivered online as well as in print. Members will be alerted by e-mail when a new issue is posted. The ASPB News welcomes member feedback. Contact the editor at [email protected].

ASPB Officers & Staff CONTENTS

President Richard Amasino 608-265-2170 1 Welcome to Chicago! President-Elect C. Robertson McClung 603-646-3940 Plant Biology & Botany 2007— Immediate Past President Michael Thomashow 517-355-2299 A Historic Event Secretary Nicholas Carpita 765-494-4653 Treasurer Mark R. Brodl 210-999-7246 4 Mid-Atlantic Section Meeting Chair, Board of Trustees Danny Schnell 413-545-4024 Chair, Publications Committee Sally Mackenzie 402-472-6997 Midwest Section Meeting Chair, Women in Plant Biology Committee Judy Brusslan 562-985-8133 Chair, Minority Affairs Committee Anthony DePass 718-488-1487 5 Plant Biology & Botany 2007—Event Chair, Education Committee Mary Williams 909-607-1218 Highlight Updates! Chair, International Committee Arun Goyal 423-439-6931 Chair, Membership Committee Mel Oliver 573-882-9645 6 2006 Membership Campaign Winners Elected Members Bonnie Bartel 713-348-5602 Steven Huber 217-265-0909 7 Hola from Mérida! Karen Koch 352-392-4711 Sectional Representatives 8 Postcards from Sarah Midwestern Allan Showalter 740-593-1135 Northeastern Lawrence Smart 603-868-7622 Southern Caryl Chlan 337-482-5916 9 Women in Plant Biology Mid-Atlantic Heven Sze 301-405-1645 Western To be determined 10 Bioethics

11 Membership Corner Executive director Crispin Taylor, ext. 115 [email protected] Donna Gordon, Letter Executive and governance affairs manager ext. 131 [email protected] Assoc. dir. of finance & administration Kim Kimnach, ext. 140 [email protected] Systems administrator Burton Nicodemus, ext. 146 [email protected] 12 Public Affairs Accounts receivable specialist Stephanie Liu-Kuan, ext. 143 [email protected] Junior accountant Jotee Pundu, ext. 144 [email protected] 21 ASPB Education Forum Assoc. dir. of meetings, marketing, & membership Jean Rosenberg, ext. 110 [email protected] Manager of marketing and web services Wendy Sahli, ext. 123 [email protected] 23 Obituaries Membership and marketing research assistant Shoshana Kronfeld, ext. 122 [email protected] Subscriptions manager Suzanne Cholwek, ext. 141 [email protected] Subscriptions research assistant Carolyn Freed, ext. 142 [email protected] Director of public affairs Brian M. Hyps, ext. 114 [email protected] Education foundation assistant Katie Engen, ext. 116 [email protected] Director of publications Nancy A. Winchester, ext. 117 [email protected] Publications assistant Diane McCauley, ext. 133 [email protected] Deadline for September/October 2007 Managing editor John Long, ext. 119 [email protected] ASPB News: August 5, 2007 Science writer, Plant Physiology Peter Minorsky, 845-878-4570 [email protected] Production manager, Plant Physiology Jon Munn, ext. 130 [email protected] Manuscript manager, Plant Physiology Leslie (Ash) Csikos, ext. 125 [email protected] News and reviews editor, The Plant Cell Nancy Eckardt, 970-495-9918 [email protected] Science editor, The Plant Cell Beatrice Grabowski, ext. 121 [email protected] Production manager, The Plant Cell Susan Entwistle, ext. 118 [email protected] Manuscript manager, The Plant Cell Annette Kessler, ext. 120 [email protected]

ASPB News is distributed to all ASPB members and is published six ASPB News times annually, in odd-numbered months. It is edited and prepared by ASPB staff from material provided by ASPB members and other Headquarters Office interested parties. 15501 Monona Drive Copy deadline is the 5th day of the preceding even-numbered Rockville, MD 20855-2768 USA month (for example, December 5 for January/February publication). Phone: 301-251-0560 Submit copy by e-mail whenever possible; submit all other copy by Fax: 301-279-2996 mail, not by fax. Contact: Nancy A. Winchester, Editor, ASPB News, 15501 Monona Drive, Rockville, MD 20855-2768 USA; [email protected]; 301-251-0560, ext. 117.

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On an unseasonably cold spring day in April, the meeting, the Marsho awards more than 60 ASPB members in the Mid- were announced. Grant Marshall Atlantic Section (MAS) gathered in the from Jon Monroe’s lab at James Nyumburu Cultural Center on the campus of Madison University and Mandy the University of Maryland at College Park. Reading from Caren Chang’s lab at The full-day program of the MAS–ASPB the University of Maryland were spring meeting highlighted diverse research chosen for presenting the best topics and extraordinary research accomplish- undergraduate and graduate talk, ments by plant biologists in the area, including respectively. In addition, members Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, discussed section business and lis- and West Virginia. The meeting participants tened to updates by ASPB Executive also enjoyed a lively presentation by keynote Director Crispin Taylor and Public ASPB members Gerry Deitzer (left) and Jon Monroe speaker Mike Blatt from the University of Affairs Director Brian Hyps. (center) discussed plant research issues with keynote Glasgow titled “Getting Around the Guard Zhongchi Liu speaker Mike Blatt (right) at the ASPB Mid-Atlantic Cell—An Expanding Problem.” At the end of Section Chair of MAS–ASPB Section spring meeting.

Midwest Section Meeting

The annual meeting of the Midwest Section cussed recent funding opportunities for the high-frequency homologous recombination of ASPB was held at Michigan State Universi- plant sciences in biofuels and international in plants and the zinc-finger nuclease consor- ty on March 24–25, organized by Susanne agricultural development. Crispin Taylor, tium (www.zincfingers.org). Hoffman-Benning and Colleen Doherty, both executive director of ASPB, presented an It was generally agreed that the student from MSU. More than 140 people attended overview of ASPB and its young scientist presentations were among the best in recent the conference from throughout the Midwest, career engagement activities. The plenary lec- years. Awards for best graduate student oral and 69 abstracts were submitted. Mike ture, by Dan Voytas from Iowa State Universi- presentations went to Andrea Braeutigam, Thomashow, past president of ASPB, wel- ty, was titled “Plant Genome Modification Eliana Gonzales-Vigil, and Nicola Harrison- comed students to the meeting, and Richard Through Homologous Recombination” and Lowe; for best graduate student poster to Sayre, president of the Midwest Section, dis- discussed the use of zinc-finger nucleases for Yungjing Wang and Colleen Doherty; for best undergraduate oral presentation to R. Ryan McNally and Brandon Wojcik; and for best undergraduate poster to Joyce Bower. Abstracts of the presentations are posted on the Midwest Section website (http://www.aspb.org/sections/ midwestern/mw07mtg.cfm). This year the position of secretary is open for nominations. Sarah Wyatt from Ohio University was nominated for secretary at the meeting; additional nominations are sought from the membership, and a vote will take place in a few months. Next year’s officers are Susanne Hoffman-Benning, president, and Chris Wolverton, vice president. Next year’s meeting will be held at Iowa State University and will be hosted by Gustavo McIntosh. Pictured above are some of the awardees. Front row from left: Ryan McNally, Nicola Harri- Richard T. Sayre son-Lowe, Yungjing Wang, and Eliana Gonzales-Vigil. Back row from left: Brandon Wojcik, Past President, MW–ASPB Andrea Braeutigam, and Colleen Doherty. Not shown: Joyce Bower.

4 • ASPB News, Vol. 34, No. 3 The March/April 2007 issue of the ASPB News versity of Delaware), and what PIs look for in featured an extensive preview of the upcoming a postdoc (Don Ort, University of Illinois). Joint Congress in Chicago. Here are some updates. The workshop will begin with dinner. This All-Societies Opening Mixer event requires a pre-purchased ticket. (Sunday evening) Perspectives of Science Leaders Open to all meeting registrants, this welcom- (Saturday evening) TAIR/Gramene/SGN Workshop I: ing event in the Exhibit Hall is a perfect way to Plant Biology into the 21st Century: Where to Gene Ontology and Plant Metabolic reconnect with old friends, meet new people, Databases from Here? and network with other meeting participants. James Collins, assistant director of biological (Sunday evening) sciences at the National Science Foundation Speakers Women in Plant Biology Chih-Wei Tung and Pankaj Jaiswal (Gramene); Committee–Sponsored Speaker and and winner of the ASPB Leadership in Sci- Tanya Berardini and Hartmut Foerster (TAIR) Luncheon ence Public Service Award, will discuss his (Monday afternoon) perspectives on where biology is today, where This workshop is divided into two parts. Part I The Women Don’t Need Fixing: The Role of it is going, and how plant biology fits into will focus on describing both the Gene Ontol- Institutions in Advancing the Participation of that vision. ogy (GO; http://www.geneontology.org) and Women in Science Plant Ontology (PO; http://www.plantontol- Speaker Career Workshop I: Where Are the ogy.org) projects. The GO project has devel- Jo Handelsman, Department of Plant Jobs? oped three structured controlled vocabularies Pathology at the University of Wisconsin– (Saturday evening) (ontologies) that describe gene products in Madison Speakers from industry (Christine Ellis, terms of their associated biological processes, Monsanto; Katherine Krolikowski, Mendel), cellular components, and molecular functions This annual luncheon is sponsored by the publishing (Nan Eckardt, The Plant Cell, in a species-independent manner. Similarly, ASPB Women in Plant Biology Committee ASPB; Jennifer Henry, Functional Plant Biology, the PO project has developed an ontology for meeting attendees. In addition to her CSIRO), academia (Rob Last, Michigan State aiming to describe plant anatomic structures work on the structure and function of University), science policy (Diane Jofuku and developmental stages. In addition to microbial communities, Handelsman teaches Okamuro, National Science Foundation), explaining the concepts behind GO and PO and writes extensively on science education and career guidance (Sarah Blackford, Society and their development, speakers will demon- and the status of women in science. Come and for Experimental Biology) will give brief pre- strate how they are used for the annotation enjoy excellent food, network with fellow sentations about opportunities in their fields of gene products across various databases students and professionals, meet members of and answer questions during the evening. (NCBI, TAIR, AmiGO, etc.) to help the Women in Plant Biology Committee, and The workshop will begin with dinner. This researchers find genes and phenotypes in hear from one of today’s leading women in event requires a pre-purchased ticket. several species that cause similar alterations science. to functions and phenotype. Career Workshop II: Getting the Most Part II will provide an overview of Meta- TAIR/Gramene/SGN Workshop II: Introduction to Three Plant Data- Out of the Postdoc Experience Cyc, a non-species-specific, curated biochemi- bases: Gramene, SGN, and TAIR (Saturday evening) cal pathway database. Speakers will present (Tuesday evening) This new workshop from the Women in MetaCyc’s content and explain how to query Speakers Plant Biology Committee has been organized the database to retrieve information on path- Pankaj Jaiswal (Gramene); Naama Menda in response to numerous requests. Speakers ways, enzymes, and genes. They will also show and Lukas Mueller (SGN); Christophe Tissier will discuss postdoc options in industry and how MetaCyc can be used to generate species- (TAIR) academia (Terry Delaney, University of Ver- specific metabolic databases by presenting mont), postdoc funding (Sharman O’Neill, two such databases—AraCyc (Arabidopsis This workshop provides an introduction to UC Davis; Guntram Bauer, Human Frontiers thaliana) and RiceCyc (Oryza sativa)—and three plant databases: Gramene (grasses), Science Program), research/teaching balance demonstrate how they can be utilized for SGN (Solanaceae), and TAIR (Arabidopsis). (Sarah Wyatt, Ohio University; Leeann data integration and classification of high- The Gramene Database (http://www. Thornton, Washington University), choosing throughput data such as microarray or gramene.org) is a comparative mapping a mentor and project (Nicole Donofrio, Uni- metabolomics experiments. continued on next page

ASPB News, Vol. 34, No. 3 • 5 continued from page 5 resource for grasses and other model plants such as Arabidopsis. It leverages the use of 2006 Membership Campaign Winners sequenced genomes of rice, Arabidopsis, and maize (currently being sequenced) as an ASPB thanks all members who participated in 2006 anchor for understanding the biology of Membership Campaigns. Below are the lucky winners. plant development, metabolic pathways, functional annotation of genes, genetic maps and markers, QTLs, and genetic diversity. During the workshop, forward and reverse Renew by December 1, 2006, Winners genetic examples will be used to query the Free Year of Membership - G. Ballance database for finding candidate genes, their iPOD - Bernhard Huchzermeyer functions, or the genomics region(s) that iPOD Nano - Jen Sheen express the phenotype of interest. The SGN Database (http://sgn.cornell.edu) is a clade-oriented database (COD) for the Bernhard Huchzermeyer Solanaceae, including tomato, potato, pep- per, eggplant, and petunia, and closely related species such as coffee. The SGN presenta- Get 6 in ’06 Membership Campaign tion will feature an overview of database content and available tools. Specifically, the Recruited six or more members in 2006 and received sequence database, the gene family database, $50 Amazon Gift Certificates the interactive comparative mapviewer, the Surinder Chopra tomato genome project resources, the locus Colleen Doherty database, and the phenotype database will be discussed. For tools, a focus will be mapping Grand Prize Drawing Winner of Round-Trip Airfare Surinder Chopra related tools such as the intron detector and (up to $800) and Registration to Plant Biology 2007 CAPS designer tools. in Chicago The TAIR Database (http://www.arabidop- Surinder Chopra sis.org) is a global resource for the Arabidopsis thaliana research community. It maintains Second-Place Drawing Winners of an iPOD the complete genome sequence and, among Anireddy S. N. Reddy other information, gene structure, gene Senthil Subramanian product information, metabolism, gene Malcolm M. Campbell expression, DNA, and seed stocks. This workshop is designed for people who are Third-Place Drawing Winners of a Plant Biology Colleen Doherty infrequent or new users of the database. We 2006 T-Shirt will cover the basics such as registration and Martin Parniske Jane Geisler-Lee ordering, simple searching, and a general Avinash Srivastava Owen Hoekenga orientation about the content of the database. Chih-Wen Yu Ulrich Hammes Akiko Harada Jian Hua Workshops (times vary) Clint Chapple David Still A slate of complimentary workshops are planned for the conference and are open to all conference attendees. Senthil Subramanian For more details and updates, see http://www.aspb.org/meetings/pb-2007/.

6 • ASPB News, Vol. 34, No. 3 Hola from Mérida!

In 2008, ASPB will hold its annual meeting in the historical Mexican city of Mérida. In planning for the meeting, we visited Mérida this past March. It is a wonderful place to experience, and in this article we provide a glimpse of this extraordinary location. Flights into Mérida from the United States transfer from major southern airports such as Atlanta, Houston, and Mexico City. We flew through Atlanta, and although we switched gates for the international leg, planning a little extra connection time allowed us to grab a light and airy building that will be a perfect in the water. Celestun is an excellent place for bite to eat. For individuals coming from out- location for our sessions. bird watching. What an amazing experience! side the United States, we recommend flying Fun events will include a true Mexican Although we don’t recommend doing directly into an airport in Mexico rather than fiesta in the street the hotels share, catered by both in the same day, after a three-hour drive through a U.S. airport to avoid having to get a the hotel chefs. We were able to experience back across the Yucatan we arrived in the visa for both the United States and Mexico. the hotel fare throughout the day and were ancient Mayan city Chichen Itza (http:// On the first evening of our trip, we enjoyed treated to wonderful dishes, including tradi- www.yucatantoday.com/destinations/eng- dinner at the Hacienda Xcanatun (xcanatun tional Yucatan lime soup and a mix of Ital- chichen-itza.php). Our guide took us means “tall stone house” in Mayan; http:// ian, French, and American tastes as well. through each ruin, explaining it significance. www.xcanatun.com) and drove through the That evening, we dined out with local plant Guides are available at the entrance, or you suburbs of Mérida, filled with small gardens biologist Theresa Hernandez Sotomayor, can take a pamphlet with you to read along in which exotic local fruits are grown. The enjoying an excellent meal with interesting the way. The 1,500-year-old location itself is hotel is picturesque, with high stucco ceilings, dishes and desserts. a book on Mayan culture. The energy of the fans creating a warm breeze, and lush tropical On our third day, we went on an adven- famous El Castillo pyramid is incredible. gardens. Hacienda Xcanatun was built in the ture across the Yucatan and back to visit sites During the solstice celebration, the position 18th century and eventually became one of that ASPB members can enjoy on their free of the sun in the sky causes a phenomenon the most important producers of henequen (a day during the meeting. Our first stop was that creates the shadow of a snake along each fiber used to produce rope) in the region. We Celestun to see the pink flamingos (http:// edge of the pyramid. We walked through the were served its traditional “welcome drink,” a www.yucatantoday.com/destinations/eng- ball court, where a game called pok ta pok frozen lime margarita made with the local celestun.htm). The drive itself was amazing. was played. The number seven is significant “bumpy” limes and Xtabentun, a sweet We drove through small Mayan towns, pass- in the game, and if you stand in the court liqueur of anise and honey that is used in ing orchards and local farms. At Celestun, we and clap your hands, it will echo seven times. many mixed drinks in the Yucatan. contracted a small motorboat and guide and More charming than the stories are the local The second day, we toured the excellent drove up the ria (estuary), which is sur- residents selling their wares along the paths, group of hotels our attendees will be using rounded by magnolia groves and fished by including hand-sewn hankies to wipe your for the meeting. The Fiesta Americana and local fisherman throughout the day. As we brow. Chichen Itza is a treasure well worth the Hyatt are across the street from each oth- approached the river bend, a mile-long line the visit. er, and the rest of the hotels are within walk- of pink flamingos came into view. We got Mérida is filled with kind people, deep ing distance of those two. The convention close enough to them to enjoy their magnifi- history, warm culture, delectable food, and center Yucatan Siglo XXI is somewhat sepa- cence in the thousands. Boating back, our lovely landscapes. We hope you will experi- rate from the city—not uncommon in many guide took us into the grove, fed by the fresh- ence it with us June 27–July 2, 2008. convention centers outside the United States. water springs Valdiosera and Venecia, and Rosenberg & Sahli Attendees will hop on a bus for a short ride through the hauntingly beautiful Tampeten Plant Biology 2008 Meeting Planners http://www.aspb.org/pb-2008 to the convention center. The center itself is a “petrified forest” of dead tree trunks rooted

ASPB News, Vol. 34, No. 3 • 7 Postcards from Sarah ASPB’s 2005 AAAS Mass Media Fellow Sarah Nell Davidson is sending a series of “postcards” back to the ASPB News as she spends the current academic year abroad doing research for her PhD thesis.

Greetings from Melbourne, Australia

Above: Tony Bacic (far right) speaking to an African journalist in the University of Melbourne booth at the Science Journalists meeting. Photo by Mark Coulson. Members Meet the Press at the World Conference of Science Journalists

The sunny, hip, and fashionable city of Mel- ship of ASPB member Adrienne Clarke. In one German journalist’s impassioned ser- bourne not only is home to the manufacturers addition, Bacic is a research leader at the mon in favor of genetically modified organ- of the Australian food icon Vegemite and to Australian Centre for Plant Functional isms (GMOs). “In most cases, they were ask- the company that finally delivered to the world Genomics, which is applying basic research ing about how this science can translate into true blue carnations, but also has become the to improve the abiotic stress tolerance and products for their own countries,” Bacic said. biotech hub of Australia over the past decade, grain quality of wheat and barley for Aus- “Journalists from developing countries want a movement that has likely been fostered by tralian farmers. to know if we are working on crops that can the network of leading universities and plant As a monitoring editor for Plant Physiology, be grown back at home.” research centers located in the region. Bacic clearly understands the importance of Bacic reckons that his appreciation for When more than 600 journalists from getting the results of research to press. But communicating science to broader audiences around the world gathered for the 5th World increasingly, he’s recognizing the importance is due in part to the influence of his long- Conference of Science Journalists, it was not of pushing science beyond an academic read- time colleague, ASPB member Adrienne surprising that the latest in plant genomics ership to the popular press. “I think that as a Clarke, who has become a major spokesper- and the challenges of agriculture in Australia student, I never appreciated the importance son for science in Australia. “Certainly in this were on the agenda. of communicating the science outside of my country, she has really talked about science in ASPB member and renowned plant cell field, and basically we weren’t trained to do a way that few others have. She has engaged wall powerhouse Tony Bacic was among the that,” Bacic confessed during the Melbourne with government and really gone out to the Melbourne-based plant scientists who took meeting. But according to Bacic, times have general public to explain the importance of the opportunity to mingle with journalists changed. science,” Bacic said. and help them understand the implications While at the meeting, Bacic talked with “We scientists have always taken for of their research programs. Bacic is currently several journalists from African and Euro- granted our understanding that research is so director of the Plant Cell Biology Research pean countries about the implications of his important to the future of our technologies, Center housed within the School of Botany research. Among other topics, they discussed that why shouldn’t we assume that it will at the University of Melbourne, which was the challenges of abiotic stress in the context automatically be accepted by the public and originally founded in 1982 under the leader- of Australia’s current drought and listened to continued on page 10

8 • ASPB News, Vol. 34, No. 3 Women in Plant Biology

From the Farm to the Laboratory: A Winding Road to Plant Biology by Peggy G. Lemaux Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California at Berkeley

It was snowing, cold. And then the water had just demonstrated. I used what I learned view of Cooperative Extension was shaped pipes froze, forcing us to head to the out- to manipulate antibiotic-producing Strepto- by my experiences on the farm—contacting house—something I tried to avoid, particu- mycetes, to try to be the first to isolate the the local agent to find out what was causing larly in the winter! Growing up on a farm in interferon gene, and to clone genes from the smut on our corn or fluffy mold on the the Midwest was not an easy life. Hours hepatitis B virus to develop a vaccine. grapes in our arbor—I decided to apply. I spent bending down to pick strawberries to Interesting it was! But I still didn’t feel ful- was intrigued, because this job required both sell at our roadside stand; cleaning out the filled. Was it the memories of growing up on a developing an applied research program and chicken coop, breathing in the dusty, fetid farm that were tugging at me? Would shifting interacting with the public to explain the air; getting up with the rooster’s crow to feed my focus calm my restless spirit? On a sunny genetic engineering of crops. It seemed both the baby lambs whose mothers had aban- spring day, I wandered over to the Carnegie interesting and challenging. And it was—in doned them. Never a dull moment! Institution, Department of Plant Biology on ways that I didn’t imagine in 1991 when I I finished high school and headed off to the Stanford campus, and my life changed! I took the job. college, looking to the future and happy to spent time there studying light harvesting in At that time, there was ample funding to leave the farm and its memories behind. Act- algae and then took a job at DeKalb Plant do applied research in cereal crops, and ing on the advice of my high school coun- Genetics, where I really learned plant biology. although there were occasional rumblings selor—who was afraid that a woman’s intel- I focused all of my efforts on figuring out how from consumers about genetically engineered lect was not strong enough to survive the to apply the genetic engineering technologies I foods (e.g., bGH-injected cows), life was rigors of a career in mathematics—I began a had learned at Stanford to one of the most good! Then in the late 1990s, mad cow dis- career in home economics! At least I learned important crops in the world—corn. We were ease erupted in Europe, and consumers in the how to cook, a talent I didn’t have time to the first to publish on how to introduce a new European Union became wary of genetically cultivate on the farm. But after three semes- gene into corn and observe its passage to the engineered foods. Concern spread to the ters, my mind yearned for more rigor in my next generation. United States after Charles Margulis, a Green- studies. I switched my major to microbiolo- Today, perhaps, achieving that goal seems peace genetic engineering issues expert, sent a gy. Peering in a microscope and seeing life trivial, but to me the excitement of that letter to Gerber warning of the dangers of smaller than I could see with my naked eyes moment can’t be overstated. At the time, using genetically engineered products in baby was glorious to me! I thrived. there were people who said it couldn’t be food. And then came 9/11 and the war in I got a master’s degree in microbiology done—that there were basic biological hur- Iraq. All of these events had a negative impact and immunology at the University of Michi- dles that could never be overcome in corn. on plant biology research, and money to do gan Medical School, followed by a soul- But we succeeded, a small group of dedicated research became hard to secure. Voices of searching period working at a pharmaceuti- scientists. And that achievement has spawned opposition became louder. It was job security cal company and trying to decide if I had an entire industry—not to mention hun- for me in one sense, but sadly, applied what it took to get a PhD. I would be the first dreds of thousands of acres of genetically research aimed at genetic engineering of in my family. But I remembered my high engineered corn worldwide. cereals became a reality difficult to achieve. school counselor’s warnings: Was my intel- Although I had no formal training in Knowing all the difficulties, would I lect too weak? plant biology, my goal was to move to an change my career decision? Absolutely not! I But I grew weary of having others deter- academic institution and make the technical- love the challenges. I love the triumphs. mine the direction of my research and going ly complex process of genetically engineering Never a dull moment! Plant biology was the off to meetings to present my research. I cereal crops simple. I wanted it to be so rou- fulfillment I was seeking. It makes it easy to summoned up my courage and headed off to tine that undergraduate students could use it get up in the morning—even without a graduate school—again in microbiology, to answer basic biological questions, as well rooster crowing! again at the University of Michigan Medical as to improve crops. School. In five years I had my degree and An unusual opportunity presented went off to the Stanford Medical School to itself—a Cooperative Extension position at join Stanley Cohen and learn genetic engi- the University of California at Berkeley in the neering, the powers of which his laboratory Department of Plant Biology. Although my

ASPB News, Vol. 34, No. 3 • 9 Bioethics

The Bioethics Imperative XXIX Snowballs! Cases Made Worse by Subsequent Actions

“Mokita”: The truth we all know and agree ty’s management of NSF grants, they found had copied the data figures from the source not to talk about. Papua New Guinea gross inconsistencies in the documentation document, altered them slightly, and includ- supporting claimed costs. This problem was ed them in his own proposal. However, he In a conversation in Washington, DC, in compounded by a lack of documentation for went one step further in his proposal and January 2007, James Kroll, head administrator alleged cost sharing associated with these described these data in a way that suggested for the National Science Foundation (NSF) grants. Each time NSF asked the university that the data were preliminary results gener- Office of Inspector General (OIG), used the for further documentation, the final expense ated in his laboratory. In addition, the term “snowball” for cases that became worse once the OIG began to investigate an allega- numbers changed. After an extensive investi- description of the altered data was complete- tion. He was kind enough to relay to me some gation, the university admitted that they did ly different from the description in the examples of this type of case. not have adequate documentation to sub- source document. Case 1. An allegation of fraud was self- stantiate most of the costs on these grants. Finally, both on his CV and in his pro- disclosed by a university supported by NSF After a lengthy period of negotiation, the posal, the PI referenced two manuscripts funds. This university found that one of its university agreed to settle the matter. In that were “in submission” to a professional grants managers had embezzled $500,000, a total, $3.3 million was either refunded to the journal. Wanting to determine if the PI had large portion of which came from NSF U.S. Treasury or “put to better use” (i.e., submitted the altered data as part of the grants. The administrator had embezzled the “deobligated” and reapportioned to new manuscripts, NSF instead found that the funds by cutting honorarium and stipend awards) by NSF. manuscripts had never been submitted to checks in his wife’s name and cashing them Case 2. NSF OIG received an allegation the journal. at a local credit union. The NSF OIG con- of plagiarism in an NSF proposal. Analysis On the basis of the evidence, NSF curred with the university’s conclusion, and revealed approximately a paragraph of debarred the subject for two years for falsifi- the employee was prosecuted locally and allegedly plagiarized text. Normally, this cation of data and plagiarism. sentenced to four years in jail. would not be enough to warrant a full- As part of NSF’s investigation, the OIG fledged investigation and would result in a Next time: “Snowballs!” continued—two asked the university how it had arrived at the warning. However, in comparing the source more cases. dollar amount of NSF funds the administra- document with the proposal, NSF investiga- Dina Mandoli [email protected] tor had embezzled, because the university’s tors found a pair of figures in both docu- documentation did not support that figure. ments that looked similar. Further analysis As the OIG looked further into the universi- revealed that the principal investigator (PI)

continued from page 8 even to your colleagues is clearly a very ucts,” he explained. “We have to think about viewed as important by them as well. But the important part of being an effective bench how we can try to sell our idea to a business- reality of it is that it isn’t that straightfor- scientist,” Bacic continued. man to take up the technology, or how to ward,” Bacic said. “The GMO debate and a In his local context of Australia, Bacic says appeal to governments for funding, or how few others have made us realize that no mat- that effective communication has been key to to include the lay community so that they ter how good the product is that you are try- the ability of Australian researchers to stay can tell the government how important it is ing to sell, if you haven’t taken the public competitive internationally. “We’ve had to that we pursue our research. We have to try along with you, it may not amount to much.” engage with governments and industry to to get our message out through every possi- “And so increasingly, and largely because promote the importance of science and the ble channel, because we can no longer take of Adrienne’s influence, we’ve became aware need to invest in it. And equally we’ve real- for granted that everyone thinks this business of the power of the press, in both positive ized that they want to see outcomes—and for of science is a noble pursuit.” and negative respects, and also realized that them, that doesn’t necessarily mean a paper Sarah Nell Davidson the ability to communicate science effectively in Science but research translated into prod- [email protected]

10 • ASPB News, Vol. 34, No. 3 Membership Corner

ASPB members share a common goal of promoting the growth, development, and outreach of plant biology as a pure and applied science. This column features some of the dedicated and innovative members of ASPB who believe that membership in our Society is crucial to the future of plant biology. If you are interested in contributing to this feature, please contact ASPB Membership at [email protected].

Name: Liwen 3. What would you tell colleagues to 7. What do you think is the next “big Jiang encourage them to join? thing” in plant biology? Title: Associate It is important for your career develop- Still the very basic cell biology, which is Professor ment, no matter whether you are a important for all the new develop- Place of Work or graduate student, postdoc, or faculty in ments in genomics, proteomics, etc. School: Depart- plant sciences. 8. What are you reading these days? ment of Biology, 4. Have you enhanced your career using Papers related to teaching and The Chinese Uni- ASPB job postings or through net- research—not much time for reading versity of Hong working at an ASPB function? novels yet. Kong I think I learned about my postdoctoral 9. What are your hobbies? Research Area: position via ASPB. Attending ASPB Music and sports to keep relaxed and Protein targeting and organelle meetings and presenting data there are energetic. biogenesis important for learning and letting peo- 10. What is your most treasured Member since: 1994 ple know about your work. possession? 1. Why has being a member of ASPB 5. Have you had any success at finding Good health and my family. been important? candidates as a result of a job posting 11. What do you still have left to learn? For my career development since I was at the meeting or on our online Job Pretty much everything. We face new a graduate student; this is also true Bank? challenges every day in classes, in the now, being a faculty member. Not yet. laboratory, and at home. 2. Was someone instrumental in getting 6. Do you read print journals? If so, you to join ASPB? where do you usually read them? Not really. I joined ASPB when I Yes, I print selected papers in pdf for- attended my first Society meeting as a mat and read them mainly at home graduate student. while watching TV or during travel.

Letter

Scotobiology: A New Branch of Biological Science To the Editor: As a member of the Ecology of the Night affected by light pollution: the hunting, feed- effects of night-time light pollution, is gener- Symposium held at Muskoka, Ontario, in ing, and breeding habits of wild animals, ating strong interest. A search of “scotobiolo- 2003, I recognized that many of the scientific amphibians, and insects; the life-cycles of gy” in Google lists a number of the recent presentations described biological reactions plants (e.g., time of flowering, onset of dor- publications and discussions in this new field and behaviors that can work properly only in mancy); the migration and flight patterns of of biology. Scotobiology reactions are not darkness and are seriously affected or pre- birds; and the health of humans, whose directly related to photobiology, although vented by night-time light pollution. This immune systems can be disturbed by night- some dark-requiring reactions are inhibited research area of biological science has been time light leading to increased incidence of by specific light responses. called Scotobiology—The Biology of the diseases such as cancer and psychological R.G.S. (Tony) Bidwell Dark. Many important biological systems are disorders. Scotobiology, the study of the

ASPB News, Vol. 34, No. 3 • 11 Public Affairs

ASPB Supports Existing and New Research Initiatives for Next Farm Bill

ASPB expressed support for existing and new Americans look to agricultural research to Agricultural Research Service (ARS) research agricultural research initiatives in comments help meet a number of the nation’s most programs are the knowledge, experience, and to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, fundamental needs—our food, feed, and dedication of current CSREES and ARS Nutrition and Forestry for the committee’s fiber supply; huge increases in the supply of national program leaders and of administra- March 7 hearing record. For this hearing, clean-burning transportation fuels; and a tors of the agencies. ASPB applauds Research, titled “Investing in Our Nation’s Future more sustainable environment. Research Education and Economics Undersecretary Through Agricultural Research,” the commit- supported by USDA in past years has helped Gale Buchanan for assuring the committee tee collected information for consideration bring plant science and related sciences to a at its March 7 hearing that existing staff in writing the research title of the upcoming point where they can project advances that would continue to be needed and relied on Farm Bill. The following are some of the rec- will better meet increased demands for food, to administer and manage the department’s ommendations ASPB made in its comments: fiber, fuel, and a sustainable environment. world-leading research programs. The increased commitment of support for Reauthorization of the National Research Authorization of the Agricultural fundamental research contained in NIFA Initiative Competitive Grants Program Bioenergy and Biobased Products would make possible greater advances in Reauthorization of the National Research Research Initiative these areas. NIFA would bring the needed Initiative Competitive Grants Program (NRI) ASPB fully supports the USDA in proposing commitment of research to help address within the Department of Agriculture Coop- the Agricultural Bioenergy and Biobased enormous demands for food, feed, fiber, and erative State Research, Education and Exten- Products Research Initiative to transition to fuels produced in a sustainable manner. sion Service (CSREES) is essential to contin- home-grown and processed plant-based fuels ued support for leading fundamental Authorization of the Specialty Crop and biobased products while reducing research in agriculture. The need for Research Initiative dependence on foreign petroleum. Increased increased support of the NRI was explained The Specialty Crop Research Initiative pro- support by the Department of Agriculture is by the National Research Council (NRC) in posed by the Department of Agriculture for needed for basic research related to plant its report “National Research Initiative: A inclusion in the Farm Bill would invest growth and development and to biotic and Vital Competitive Grants Program in Food, $1 billion over 10 years to provide science- abiotic stress tolerance. These and related Fiber and Natural-Resources Research.” The based tools to the specialty crop industry. areas of research are of central importance to NRC found that “without a dramatically Specialty crops grown in the United States the long-term goal of maximizing plant pro- enhanced commitment to merit-based peer- represent $49 billion in sales. Increasing the ductivity. USDA–NRI plant research pro- reviewed food, fiber and natural resources level of federal research support devoted to grams on gene expression and genetic diver- research, the nation places itself at risk.” the study of specialty crops can be expected sity, environmental stress, plant ASPB urges the committee to reauthorize to lead to new varieties that will reduce the biochemistry, plant growth and develop- funding authority for the NRI in the Farm susceptibility of specialty crops to freezes and ment, plant genomics, biobased products, Bill to enhance and build on current leading other severe weather conditions and enhance and bioenergy production research and other research programs. crop growth, development, and yield. Scien- key areas provide valuable knowledge that tists can project advances in research that Authorization of NIFA plant breeders and growers will need to sus- will lead to increased phytonutrient content ASPB supports the authorization of the tain increased bioenergy crop production. of specialty crops, which would contribute to National Institute of Food and Agriculture A number of specific research targets the improved health and nutrition of Ameri- (NIFA) as proposed in S. 2782 in the 109th would contribute to enhanced net photosyn- cans. ASPB supports authorization of the Congress. The NIFA legislation contains rec- thetic production of feedstock crops: Specialty Crop Research Initiative. ommendations from a report of a task force • Responsiveness to elevated CO2 appointed by the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Proposals • Staying green (delayed senescence) and chaired by Dr. William Danforth. There are significant differences between • Refined photoprotection NIFA would advance fundamental knowl- managing an intramural research program • Reduced photorespiratory losses edge of benefit to agricultural producers and and managing an extramural research pro- • Improved water use efficiency consumers. gram. Key to the success of CSREES and • Photosynthetic electron transfer continued on page 19

12 • ASPB News, Vol. 34, No. 3 Public Affairs ASPB Member Steve Long Consults with President Bush on Biofuels Research

ASPB member Steve Long, Robert Emerson applying the talent and technology of Ameri- large increases in the use of cellulosic ethanol, Professor, University of Illinois, Urbana– ca, this country can dramatically improve biodiesel, and other biofuels through research. Champaign, and other researchers and trans- our environment, move beyond a petroleum- For more information on opportunities in portation experts met with President George based economy, and make our dependence biomass production for use as biofuels, see the Bush on February 23 to discuss promising on Middle Eastern oil a thing of the past.” April 2005 Department of Energy and USDA alternatives to oil found in biofuels. Steve Reports and studies by the Departments of report titled Biomass as Feedstock for a Bioen- said that President Bush expressed the view Energy and Agriculture support President ergy and Bioproducts Industry: The Technical that the more diverse the sources of liquid Bush’s projection of reduced dependence on Feasibility of a Billion-Ton Annual Supply at fuels, the less dependent the United States foreign oil through research. Members of the http://feedstockreview.ornl.gov/pdf/billion_ will be on foreign oil. Steve and the others science community have joined in projecting ton_vision.pdf. fully agreed with President Bush on this view. Steve commented to President Bush on Steve Long consults with the importance of fundamental plant science President Bush in the Oval research in photosynthesis and in metabolic Office on opportunities in plant research that will lead pathway engineering to improve the amount to vast increases in biofuels and quality of feedstock that can be generated production. President Bush, in a sustainable manner. President Bush has with bipartisan support in launched a research initiative within the Congress, is launching a Department of Energy Office of Science that comprehensive and well- would fund three new bioenergy research designed biofuels research initiative fully supported by centers conducting plant and microbial ASPB. White House photo by research related to producing cellulosic Eric Draper. ethanol. Cellulose is the most abundant biological material on earth. President Bush noted that the recent DOE research initiatives were just the start of the support that would be given to achieving a major reduction in the use of gasoline and other foreign oil products. The Departments of Energy and Agriculture are jointly funding a research program on plant feedstock genomics and are planning further research initiatives in bioenergy and bioproducts research. In his State of the Union address in 2006, President Bush introduced to millions of lis- teners exciting plant reasearch opportunities related to biofuels. He said, “We’ll also fund additional research in cutting-edge methods of producing ethanol, not just from corn, but from wood chips and stalks, or switchgrass. Our goal is to make this new kind of ethanol practical and competitive within six years. President George W. Bush walks Steve Long (holding notebook), Department of Energy Sec- retary Sam Bodman (to Steve’s left), and other transportation fuel experts and researchers Breakthroughs on this and other new tech- back to the Oval Office after a demonstration of alternative fuel automobiles on the South nologies will help us reach another great Lawn of the White House February 23, 2007. “It’s going to require continued federal research goal: to replace more than 75 percent of our dollars, and I call upon the Congress to fully fund my request for alternative sources of oil imports from the Middle East by 2025. By energy,”said President Bush. White House photo by Eric Draper.

ASPB News, Vol. 34, No. 3 • 13 Public Affairs ASPB Member Arntzen Presents PCAST Energy Report to President Bush

ASPB member Charles Arntzen and his colleagues on the President’s Council of Advis- ers on Science and Technology (PCAST) have prepared for President George W. Bush the report The Energy Imperative: Technology and the Role of Emerging Companies. Charlie was part of a six-member delega- tion from PCAST that met with President Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, and Sec- retary of Energy Sam Bodman and others in the Oval Office December 1 to present a briefing on the report. Charlie, whose presentation to President Bush was on biofuels, had worked earlier with ASPB and its members in collecting information for consideration in preparing the report. Charles Arntzen and fellow PCAST members presented a PCAST energy report to President In the report, PCAST recommended an Bush in the Oval Office. From left to right: White House Office of Science and Technology increase in federal support for science and Policy Director John Marburger, ASPB and PCAST member Charles Arntzen, PCAST member technology research and development. Mary Anne Fox, President George Bush, PCAST member Steven Papermaster, PCAST member Martin Jischke, and PCAST Co-Chair Floyd Kvamme. White House photo by Eric Draper. PCAST noted that many of the advanced energy technologies the report described had originated, at least in part, from federally funded research. PCAST recommended fully funding President Bush’s American Compet- itiveness Initiative and Advanced Energy Ini- tiative (AEI). PCAST also urged inclusion of The Arabidopsis Book USDA in an expanded AEI. The American Society of Plant Biologists has published The Arabidopsis Book The report also included the following (TAB) as a free online compendium since 2002. overarching recommendations: Founding editors Chris Somerville and Elliot Meyerowitz, and former editors Jeff • Promote the Energy Policy Act of 2005 Dangl and Mark Stitt, have brought over 50 chapters online, all available free of incentives. charge on the Internet. In 2006, TAB received 100,000 full-text downloads. • Support state energy initiatives. The editors and ASPB are pleased to announce that TAB now has a new editorial • Position the federal government as an board to guide its ongoing expansion: early adopter of new technology. Caren Chang, University of Maryland The report is available at http:// Ian Graham, University of York www.ostp.gov/PCAST/PCAST-EnergyImper- Rob Last, Michigan State University Ottoline Leyser, University of York ative_FINAL.pdf. Rob McClung, Dartmouth College Cynthia Weinig, University of Minnesota The new board will be overseeing all new content development as well as updates to existing chapters to keep TAB the most comprehensive and current work on Arabidopsis. ASPB is providing funds for the production of TAB as a public service. All chapters are hosted in partnership with BioOne (www.bioone.org) in HTML and PDF formats.

14 • ASPB News, Vol. 34, No. 3 Public Affairs Committee on Public Affairs Meets with Congressional Offices, Agency Officials

Committee on Public Affairs mem- Judy Verbeke, NSF Directorate bers met with their congressional for Biological Sciences (BIO) senior offices and National Science Foun- adviser, discussed major compo- dation (NSF) officials on March 13 nents of the Emerging Frontiers concerning research programs sup- programs, including support for porting plant research. The congres- the important new Plant Science sional and agency visits followed a Cyberinfrastructure Collaborative. day-long business meeting March The fiscal year 2008 budget 12, in which the committee consid- request for Emerging Frontiers is ered a number of federal policy $99.16 million, the same as in fis- issues and initiatives affecting plant cal year 2007. science. Maryanna Henkart, director of Chairman Gary Stacey, Univer- the division of Molecular and Cel- sity of Missouri; Roger Innes, Indi- lular Biosciences (MCB), reviewed ana University; Steve Howell, Iowa Committee on Public Affairs member Rob Last of Michigan aspects of the programs her divi- State University; Rob Last, Michi- State University visits with U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). sion supports. Priorities for MCB gan State University; Martha are in plant biology; microbial biol- Hawes, University of Arizona; and programs sponsoring basic plant research ogy, living networks, and complex student representative Jeff Gordon, Cornell and conveyed their message to congressional processes; integration of education and University, took part in the visits and busi- offices. The committee also addressed ways broadening of participation in all aspects of ness meeting. to aid grower group support efforts for lead- molecular and cellular research; and funda- The committee expressed support for ing plant research programs. mental research and education at the inter- existing and newly proposed research pro- Committee members discussed plans for face of biology and the physical sciences. The grams supporting plant research. Newly pro- ASPB coordination with the Department of fiscal year 2008 budget request for MCB is posed research programs supported by the Agriculture Cooperative Research, Education $116.37 million, an increase of 4.6% over the committee include the National Institute of and Extension Service of a Plant and Pest current fiscal year. Food and Agriculture Act of 2007 (Senate Bill Biology Stakeholders workshop this fall. This Tom Brady, director of the division of 971), sponsored by Senator Kit Bond (R-MO); would be the third Plant and Pest Biology Integrative Organismal Systems (IOS), dis- the USDA-proposed Agricultural Bioenergy Stakeholders workshop coordinated by ASPB; cussed changes in the division formerly and Biobased Products Research Initiative, the first two were held in 2002 and 2005. known as Integrative Organismal Biology. providing $500 million over 10 years; the Machi Dilworth, division director of the Brady said that the change in name reflects USDA-proposed Specialty Crop Research Ini- NSF Division of Biological Infrastructure, an enhanced focus on understanding emer- tiative of $1 billion over 10 years; the Plant met with Committee on Public Affairs mem- gent properties of living systems. For 2008, Science Cyberinfrastructure Collaborative of bers and explained aspects of leading research IOS will place highest priority on highly $5 million in the NSF fiscal year 2008 budget programs within her division. The division creative, integrative, and transformative request and of up to $50 million over five builds and develops innovative scientific studies that lead to a deeper understanding years; and $75 million for three Department infrastructure that empowers the biological of the emergent properties of organisms. of Energy bioenergy research centers studying research community to advance all fields of The fiscal year 2008 budget request for IOS plants and microbes for cost-effective pro- biology under the purview of the Directorate is $105.49 million, an increase of 4.7% over duction of cellulosic ethanol for fiscal year for Biological Sciences. The division is orga- the current year. 2008, expected to reach a cumulative total of nized into two clusters: research resources $375 million over five years. and human resources. An increase of 11.9% The committee discussed ways to further to $96.1 million is in the fiscal year 2008 bud- support these and existing leading research get request for the division.

ASPB News, Vol. 34, No. 3 • 15 Public Affairs DOE Energy Biosciences Seeks $38 Million in Fiscal Year 2008 Vanderhoef Urged Support for Leading Basic Research

The fiscal year 2008 budget request for the The Energy Biosciences program sup- bolic regulation section supports fundamen- Department of Energy’s Office of Science, ports research on molecular mechanisms of tal research in the molecular processes that Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Energy Bio- natural solar energy conversion (photosyn- regulate chemical reactions important to sciences program is $38 million, an increase thesis) and metabolic regulation of energy energy conversion within cells. of more than 6%. production. The section on molecular mech- Richard Greene, program manager for Larry Vanderhoef, chancellor of the anisms of natural solar energy conversion the Energy Biosciences Program, said that University of California, Davis, cited the supports fundamental research to character- the program will be seeking a program offi- importance of leading fundamental ize the molecular and chemical mechanisms cer detailed to the program beginning at the research supported by the Energy Bio- involved in the conversion of solar energy to end of this summer. Those interested in this sciences program as Office of Science offi- chemical energy. Research supported one-year position should contact Greene at cials developed the fiscal year 2008 budget. includes the characterization of the chemical [email protected]. Vanderhoef continues to be a key leading processes occurring during photosynthesis, supporter of the Energy Biosciences pro- natural catalytic mechanisms involved in the gram and the Office of Science, as he has synthesis of chemical fuels, and the chem- been for a number of years. istry of carbon dioxide fixation. The meta-

Research on Prairie Grass Contributes to Sustainable Energy Production

In a 10-year experiment reported in Science ed with mixtures of many native prairie The study also found significant green- in December 2006, ecologist David Tilman perennial species yielded 238% more bioen- house gas benefits. When high-diversity of the University of Minnesota and Jason ergy than those planted with just a single mixtures of native plants are grown on Hill of the Department of Applied Econom- species. They said that high plant diversity degraded soils, they remove carbon dioxide ics at the University of Minnesota and their led to high productivity, and little fertilizer or from the air, Tilman and Hill found. They colleagues explored how much bioenergy chemical weed or pest killer was required. commented that much of this carbon ends could be produced by 18 different native According to Tilman and Hill, mixed up stored in the soil. “In essence, mixtures of prairie plant species grown on highly prairie grass can serve as biofuel crops that native plants gradually restore the carbon degraded and infertile soil. can be grown with much less energy and levels that degraded soils had before being Tilman and Hill reported on their findings chemicals than the food crops currently used cleared and farmed. This benefit lasts for again in an article published Sunday, March for biofuels. Prairie grass biofuel crops can be about a century,” Tilman and Hill said. 25, in the Washington Post, available at http:// grown on less fertile land, including land that Increased basic and applied research on www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/ has been degraded by farming, which would prairie grass and related species could con- article/2007/03/23/AR2007032301625.html. decrease competition between food and bio- tribute to cost-competitive and sustainable The scientists planted 172 plots in central fuels, they noted. The United States has about production of cellulosic ethanol. Minnesota with various combinations of the 60 million acres of such land in the Conser- 18 species, randomly chosen. They reported vation Reserve Program, road edge rights-of- that on highly degraded land, the plots plant- way, and abandoned farmlands.

16 • ASPB News, Vol. 34, No. 3 Public Affairs NABC Sees Biofuel Power Emerging in “The Road Forward”

The National Agricultural ously served without any long- would increase the reliability of inputs for Biotechnology Council term negative impacts of one on manufacturing, transportation, electricity, (NABC), a consortium of the other, provided there is and heating. 34 research and educational major biosource and bioprocess The report cites biobased energy sources’ institutions in the United innovation for biobased indus- potential contributions to the country’s eco- States and Canada, has trial products. The benefits will nomic strength: developed the report Agri- be far-reaching, from self-suffi- • Additional annual gross farm-gate rev- culture and Forestry for ciency in transportation fuel enue could reach over $40 billion. Energy, Chemicals and with improved homeland secu- • Rural communities would benefit from Materials: The Road For- rity, more sustainable industries, economic development and job creation. ward. Free access to the revitalization of rural economies • New rural investment would amount to a report is available at and improved balance of pay- minimum of $200 billion for biofuel pro- http://nabc.cals. cornell. ments, to mitigation of environ- duction plants, and additional investment Ralph Hardy edu/pubs/The_ Road_ mental problems. Targets for would be made available for chemical and Forward.pdf. Ralph Hardy made significant biosources, processes and costs are pro- material manufacturing. contributions to writing the report. Hardy, posed as well as an integrated structure for • Annual capital exports would be reduced who was treasurer of ASPB from 1973 to success by 2025. by savings in the cost of petroleum 1976, is president of NABC. The report cited benefits of plant and relat- imports, which were about $250 billion to This document identifies new value- ed research that will lead to cost-competitive, $300 billion in 2006. added markets for agriculture and forestry, vastly increased production of biofuels and • New value-added chemicals and materials with projected benefits, targets, and structure. other biobased products. The authors called would be developed for domestic and The following is the summary from the for a transition from the inherently unsus- export sales. report: tainable dominant use of petroleum to a • The United States could secure world The NABC Road Forward calls for a more sustainable use of agricultural and leadership in agriculture, forestry, and national mobilization—by academe, gov- forestry sources in combination with effi- industrial biotechnology. ernment and industry—to expeditiously cient use of declining petroleum reserves. • Finally, the environment and human move the United States economy from Improved sustainability, they noted, is a health would benefit as well. Biobased mainly petroleum-based to more sustain- built-in benefit of biobased products. fuels would substantially reduce future able biologically and petroleum-based, Biobased energy sources will contribute increases in net greenhouse gas emissions; with 100+ billion gallons annually of to homeland and economic security in at mitigate global climate change; and transportation fuel and value-added least two ways. They will substantially reduce pollution of air, water, and soil chemicals and materials produced from decrease or, in time, even eliminate the need and the impact on human health from biomass. The plant-based agricultural and for up to 60% of petroleum currently petroleum-combustion by-products. forestry traditional commodity and new imported, much from politically unstable value-added markets can be simultane- regions. In addition, energy self-sufficiency

ASPB News, Vol. 34, No. 3 • 17 Public Affairs

Future ASPB Congressman Brian Bilbray Calls for Meetings Support for Biological Sciences

Congressman Brian Bilbray interdisciplinary (R-CA) has led a successful research. The follow- effort supporting inclusion of ing is Congressman biological sciences, social sci- Bilbray’s proposed ences, and interdisciplinary report language: research in federal research The Committee funding authorization. He appreciates the received support in this effort increasingly interdis- from Committee on Science ciplinary nature of and Technology Chairman science research, Bart Gordon (D-TN), com- which is occurring mittee ranking member Ralph more often at the Hall (R-TX), and other mem- boundaries of the bers of the committee. physical sciences, life Bilbray expressed concern sciences and social Congressman Brian Bilbray Plant Biology 2008 over House legislation (H.R. and behavioral sci- Mérida, Mexico 363) that was scheduled to come before the ences. If we are to retain our scientific June 27–July 2 committee on February 28 that would have advantage in the world, we will need to Joint Annual Meeting authorized funding, including a 10% increase rely inclusively on all basic sciences and of the American Society of for the physical sciences, mathematics, and technologies. To begin to prioritize one Plant Biologists and the Sociedad computer science and engineering for the field of research over another will not Mexicana De Bioquímica National Science Foundation, Department of only fracture the interdisciplinary nature Rama: Bioquímica y Biología Energy, National Aeronautics and Space of the current research structure, but will Molecular de Plantas Administration, National Institute of Stan- also set us back in our quest to solve many dards and Technology, and without limita- of our most puzzling scientific mysteries. Plant Biology 2009 tion of science discipline for the Department Therefore, the Committee calls for invest- Honolulu, Hawaii of Defense. ment to improve the nation’s research and July 18–22 This multiagency authorization bill con- training capabilities in and across all fields tained no funds for the biological or social of science, engineering and mathematics. sciences. Hill staff said that biological and Committee staff studying Congressman Plant Biology 2010 social sciences would be included in future Bilbray’s proposed report language respond- Montreal, Canada authorization bills to be drafted and consid- ed that the authorization section that had July 30–August 5 ered for authorizations for each agency. Bio- excluded biology and the social sciences logical and social science societies remained would be deleted with a chairman’s amend- Joint Annual Meeting of the American Society of Plant concerned about H.R. 363’s exclusion of ment, which was indeed drafted and passed Biologists and the support for biology and the social sciences. the next day, February 28, in the committee’s Canadian Society of Plant Congressman Bilbray received support markup of H.R. 363. This action negated the Physiologists—Société February 27 from ASPB and other biological need for inclusion of the report language. Canadienne de Physiologie Végétale and social science societies in proposing Committee staff said upcoming autho- report language to accompany H.R. 363 that rizations bills to be offered in the committee For more information would recognize support for all science disci- for each research agency will include all sci- go to plines, including biological, social, and ence disciplines. www.aspb.org/meetings/ behavioral sciences, and cite the need for

18 • ASPB News, Vol. 34, No. 3 Public Affairs

Meyerowitz’s NSF-Supported Outreach Helps Ground Students in Plant Biology

How do you get today’s students excited At the open house, ASPB member est children. about plant biology? That was the question Meyerowitz and representatives from the cen- This year, the Grounding in Botany that inspired the creation of the “Grounding ter provided information on the program, course will be held July 10–August 3, Tues- in Botany” course at the Huntington Botani- along with hands-on demonstrations to inter- days through Fridays, at the Huntington cal Center in southern California. Each year, Professor Elliot Meyerowitz, California Insti- tute of Technology, along with others in the plant biology field, presents a four-week professional development course for high school science teachers. Course participants discuss and demonstrate different ways of getting students interested in plant biology. Following completion of the course, participants are invited back for five follow-up workshops. On February 7, 2007, the Huntington Botanical Center held an exhibit at the National Science Foundation’s open house in the Arlington, Virginia, headquarters as the Elliot Meyerowitz fiscal year 2008 budget request was released. Mike Kerkman, an educator at the Huntington Botanical Center in San Marino, Calif., encourages two “future scientists” to examine parts of a flower under a microscope. Photo by Curt Suplee, National Science Foundation.

continued from page 12 specific individual compounds in plants is crop residues, and other sources of biomass. • Characterization of carbon-partition- not predictable with current knowledge. Fur- Along with corn and sorghum, research ing mechanisms in plants. ther knowledge will be needed in metabolic could offer future ethanol production oppor- Metabolic Engineering engineering to change large subsets of tunities with sweet potato, sugarcane, and metabolism as may be required for alter- other crops. For sugarcane, research is need- To transition to a plant-based energy econo- ations in biomass production. ed to increase drought and cold stress toler- my, more investment is needed in plant ance. Gains in production in biodiesel from research on metabolic engineering. To modi- Competing with All Imported Petroleum soybean and other regionally grown oilseed fy existing crop plants (or other plants that Market Sectors crops could result from accelerated bioener- would then serve as new energy crops) in a ASPB recommends collaborations between gy research. In addition to production of way that will enhance their properties for use the Departments of Agriculture and Energy biofuels, increased support for plant bioener- as either fuels or as specialty chemical feed- in identifying ways to derive energy from a gy research could lead to advances in pro- stocks, researchers must understand the broad variety of plants for ethanol, cellulosic duction of high-value biochemical products, metabolism of those plants, and they must ethanol, and biodiesel. Both departments such as superior quality nylon and be able to predictably and accurately modify have relationships with plant scientists who polyurethane, that have historically been the metabolism in those plants. There is a could share their knowledge of ways to derived from petroleum. rapidly growing and significant body of liter- exploit energy sources in plant cellulose in ature that demonstrates that production of switchgrass, miscanthus, trees, wood chips,

ASPB News, Vol. 34, No. 3 • 19 THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG

Applications are invited for:- Institute of Plant Molecular Biology and Agricultural Biotechnology Research Associate Professor(s) / Research Assistant Professor(s) (Ref. 07/037(054)/2) Applicants should have (i) a PhD degree in plant sciences; (ii) postdoctoral experience in related fields; and (iii) an excellent publication record in prestigious academic journals. Apart from teaching, the appointees will (a) conduct vigorous research related to crop genetics and agronomy, crop transformation and genetic engineering, crop nutritional improvement, plant genomics, plant proteonmics and metabolomics, or plant stress studies; and (b) apply for competitive grants. Appointments will normally be made on contract basis for up to three years initially commencing as soon as practicable, leading to longer-term appointment or substantiation later subject to performance, budget and mutual agreement. Applications will be accepted until the posts are filled. Salary and Fringe Benefits Salary will be highly competitive, commensurate with qualifications and experience. The University offers a comprehensive fringe benefit package, including medical care, plus a contract-end gratuity for appointments of two years; and housing benefits for eligible appointees. Further information about the University and the general terms of service for appointments is available at http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/personnel. The terms mentioned herein are for reference only and are subject to revision by the University. Application Procedure Please send full resume, copies of academic credentials, a publication list and/or abstracts of selected published papers, together with names, addresses and fax numbers/e-mail addresses of three referees to whom the applicants’ consent has been given for their providing references (unless otherwise specified), to the Personnel Office, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong (Fax: (852) 2603 6852). The Personal Information Collection Statement will be provided upon request. Please quote the reference number and mark “Application - Confidential” on cover.

CALL FOR PAPERS Plant Physiology Focus Issue on Vector Systems for Plant Research and Biotechnology

Deadline for Submissions: August 1, 2007 To submit an article, please go to http://submit.plantphysiol.org. Plant Physiology is pleased to announce a Focus Issue on Vector Systems for Plant Research and Biotechnology to be published in December 2007. The issue will be edited by Vitaly Citovsky. Submissions in all topics of plant expression vector systems designed for state-of-the-art experimentation are welcome, including novel systems for multiple gene expression, protein tagging, induction and suppression of gene silencing, specialized vectors for monocot transformation, and virus-based vectors. Emphasis should be made on simplicity of use and applicability of the system to a wide range of model plants and crop species. Authors interested in contributing should indicate this in the cover letter when submitting papers online at http:// submit.plantphysiol.org/. Please select “Vector Systems (December, 2007)” from the Focus Issue list in the online submission system. Articles published within 2 years before and after the Focus Issue will be considered for inclusion in an online Focus Collection of articles relevant to the focus topic (http://www.plantphysiol.org/ misc/collections.dtl). Please contact Vitaly Citovsky ([email protected]) for additional information.

20 • ASPB News, Vol. 34, No. 3 ASPB Education Forum

Interactive Plant Research Experiences Offered Through ASPB Booth at NSTA Convention

The 2007 meeting of the National Science experiments in plant and environmental sci- Support for the booth, proposed by the Teachers Association, held in St. Louis March ence for elementary, middle, and high school ASPB Education Committee, was provided 29–April 1, was a great success for ASPB in students,” and Cunningham showcased these by the ASPB Executive Committee, which creating enthusiasm and ideas among science experiments at the convention. The exhibits awarded Good Works funds for this success- teachers. University of Wisconsin–Madison’s consisted of “lights and plants from Wiscon- ful education outreach effort. Fast Plants Program partnered with ASPB at sin Fast Plants, clays, [and] small-bottle the exhibit booth, featuring K–12 classroom demos highlighting charge, water-binding instructional materials for studying plants. capacity, and erosion experiments. . . . The According to Dan Lauffer, outreach pro- little starch–agar gels and assorted seeds gram manager for the Center for Education growing at my table kept people stopping by Research at the University of Wisconsin– and asking questions. What really helped was Madison, the overall “number of teachers the fact that all of us could gear whatever we visiting the exhibition hall this year was low- were showcasing to elementary, middle, or er than prior years. On an average year, we high school learning objectives.” generally hand out nearly 1,200 copies of handouts and hands-on materials. This year, the number of visitors to our booth was Right: Suzanne Cunningham answers around 800. However, the materials and questions from teachers on the starch–agar ideas for the classroom were well received, gels at the ASPB booth. and teachers regularly noted the need for plants in their classrooms to teach the stan- Below: Suzanne Cunningham (left) shows dards students need to know at each grade teachers experiments from the Agronomy level.” K–12 Outreach Program. The enthusiasm of the teachers who visited the booth can be attributed to the interactive exhibits. According to the Fast Plants Program report, the exhibit asked teachers to design “an experiment with two different size seeds of the same species,” an exercise “designed to engage the teachers as scientist by having them ask two questions about germinations and growth and make predictions prior to setting up the experiment, which they wore around their necks in microcentrifuge tubes.” The teachers were asked to return the next day to share the results, and 30% of the participants did, a much higher proportion than expected. Suzanne Cunningham, research crop physiologist for Purdue University, provided the ASPB booth with experiments from the university’s Agronomy K–12 Outreach Pro- gram. The purpose of the outreach program is to “highlight inexpensive, interactive

ASPB News, Vol. 34, No. 3 • 21 Excellence in Plant Molecular Biology/Biotechnology Graduate Fellowship Program at OSU

The Plant Molecular Biology/Biotechnology (PMBB) Program at The Ohio State University is being dramatically expanded as a Targeted Investment for Excellence initiative by Ohio State. PMBB is an interdisciplinary group that includes faculty members from the Colleges of Biological Sciences and Food, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. PMBB research programs conduct molecular studies on the cutting edge of plant science, including plant development, plant signaling, plant metabolic engineering, photosynthesis biochemistry, and plant-pathogen interactions. PMBB invites outstanding students seeking to earn a Ph.D. in plant science from any of the participating graduate programs at OSU to apply for the newly established Excellence in Plant Molecular Biology/Biotechnology Graduate Fellowships. The fellowships provide up to 4 years of support, including stipend ($25K/year), full benefits, tuition and fee waivers, and travel opportunities. Application forms and detailed information, including a directory of PMBB faculty and participating graduate programs, is available at: http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/%7Epmbb/

To build a diverse workforce Ohio State encourages applications from individuals with disabilities, minorities, veterans, and women. EEO/AA employer.

CALL FOR PAPERS Plant Physiology Focus Issue on Plant Interactions with Arthropod Herbivores

Plant Physiology is pleased to announce a Focus Issue on Plant Interactions with Arthropod Herbivores to be published in March 2008. The issue will be edited by Georg Jander and Gregg Howe. Submissions describing novel aspects of any interaction between plants and arthropod herbivores are welcome. Emphasis should be on molecular and biochemical aspects of the interaction, including recognition of herbivory, signaling pathways that regulate host plant defense, volatile signals, tritrophic interactions, plant defense chemistry, manipulation of plant defenses by herbivores, and natural variation in plant resistance to herbivores. Authors interested in contributing should indicate this in the cover letter when submitting papers online at http:// submit.plantphysiol.org/. Please select “Plant-Herbivore Interactions, March 2008” from the Focus Issue list in the online submission system. Articles published within 2 years before and after the Focus Issue will be considered for inclusion in an online Focus Collection of articles relevant to the focus topic. Please contact Georg Jander ([email protected]) or Gregg Howe ([email protected]) for additional information. Deadline for Submissions: November 1, 2007. To submit an article, please go to http://submit.plantphysiol.org.

22 • ASPB News, Vol. 34, No. 3 Obituaries

The ASPB News has assembled links to all obituaries published in the newsletter since January 2003 at http://www.aspb.org/newsletter/obituaries.cfm. Please contact the editor at [email protected] with questions or suggestions.

Paul Karl Stumpf about ß-oxidation of fatty acids in plants, Former ASPP President Paul Karl Stumpf encouraging Paul to initiate research on lipid died February 10, 2007, of inoperable prostate metabolism in plants. After 10 years on the cancer at his home, just 13 days before his Berkeley campus, where he attained the rank 88th birthday. He had known of his illness for of professor in the Department of Agricul- several years but suffered little pain. His last tural Biochemistry, he transferred to the few days were spent sleeping, and his passing Davis campus to establish a new Department was peaceful, with his wife Ruth and one of of Biochemistry and Biophysics. The depart- his daughters nearby. ment was warmly received, and Paul began Paul was born in New York City on Feb- an active teaching and research program in ruary 23, 1919, but never knew his father, 1959. He served on four occasions as chair of Karl Stumpf, a bass clarinetist with the that department. Boston Symphony, who had died 2 months Paul justifiably deserves to be called the earlier. In 1920, his mother, Annette Stumpf, father of modern plant lipid biochemistry. In took Paul and his older brother Felix back to more than 250 publications, he and his Blankenberg, Germany, to raise them near his coworkers discussed diverse topics ranging father’s family and escape the anti-German from the initial steps in fatty acid biosynthe- feelings still existing in the United States after sis to the assembly of membrane and storage World War I. However, in 1923 she became lipids to the degradation of lipids. His work discouraged with conditions in Germany and land, David E. Green, who assigned Paul to has received more than 7,500 citations and, returned to New York, where her sons started purify a new enzyme, potato starch phospho- 20 years after his retirement, is still frequent- school. In 1930, she used an inheritance to rylase. His first paper in the Journal of Bio- ly cited. He is perhaps best known for his purchase a small seaside resort hotel near logical Chemistry, coauthored with Green, extensive characterization of the systems for Bridgeton, Maine, where her sons attended appeared in April 1941 just before Paul fatty acid biosynthesis in plants. These stud- the local high school with a total enrollment received his AB cum laude in June. When ies included the identification of the many of 126 students. Paul achieved high grades Green moved to Columbia University that component enzymes, their subcellular local- and in 1932 read Paul de Kruif’s Microbe fall, Paul followed to pursue his PhD under ization, and the discovery of the prokaryotic Hunters. This small book had a great influ- Green. His thesis, “The Pyruvic Dehydroge- nature of enzymes of fatty acid synthesis and ence on him; he later attributed to it his deci- nase of Proteus Vulgaris,” was completed in of the chloroplast acetyl-CoA carboxylase. sion to become a research scientist in the 1945 and published in the Journal of Biologi- The discovery of acyl-ACP thioesterases led biological sciences. cal Chemistry with Paul as sole author. to a description of CoA track versus ACP When Paul’s brother was accepted to Har- Eager to establish his own career, Paul ini- track reactions that was a conceptual precur- vard College for the fall of 1934, his mother, tially hoped to study enzymes involved in sor to the prokaryotic and eukaryotic two- determined to provide her sons with an virus growth and reproduction at the School pathway hypothesis that has underpinned excellent education, moved her family to of Public Health, University of Michigan. He much of modern plant lipid research. A Cambridge and established a boarding soon decided that such work would be diffi- major early discovery was the pathway of house. Paul was enrolled in the Cambridge cult because of the limited knowledge of alpha oxidation, described initially in 1956 High and Latin School, together with 4,000 viral biochemistry. Paul met and married and in more detail in 1974. The system is other students. He survived his first year, Ruth Rodenbeck in Ann Arbor during the 18 now known to be involved in plant pathogen won a competitive science prize and medal in months he was at the University of Michi- responses, and the enzymes responsible have his second, spent another year at the school, gan. In the fall of 1947, he accepted an recently been cloned. Paul’s discoveries in and then entered Harvard College in 1937 on appointment at the University of California plants preceded the identification of the a full fellowship. As an honors student, Paul at Berkeley, as an assistant professor of plant pathway in animals and the later connection was required to do a research project and nutrition, and his initial studies were on gly- of adult Refsum’s disease to the inability of decided to work with enzymes. The chair of colytic enzymes in plants. However, his read- humans to metabolize phytanic acid by alpha biochemistry at Harvard Medical School ing of James Bonner’s first edition of Plant oxidation. introduced him to a new arrival from Eng- Biochemistry indicated that little was known continued on next page

ASPB News, Vol. 34, No. 3 • 23 Obituaries continued from page 23 Later sabbaticals were in London, with A. T. Senior Scientist Award from the Alexander Paul trained more than 60 students, post- James; in Copenhagen, with D. von von Humboldt Foundation of Germany, and docs, and visiting scientists, many of whom Wettstein; in Cologne, with W. Stoffel; and in two Guggenheim Foundation Fellowships went on to become leaders in plant biochem- Canberra, with K. Boardman, and these (1962 and 1969). In 1994 Paul was elected a istry research. Throughout his career, he leaves were similarly productive. He appreci- fellow of the American Association for the maintained a close connection with bench ated that such leaves gave him a break in his Advancement of Science. work. He trained every new arrival in the lab teaching and administrative duties at Davis After Paul became professor emeritus at on the use of the gas chromatographs and and opportunities to renew his research the University of California, Davis, he took their radioisotope detectors, and when an skills. His family always accompanied him the helm of the Competitive Grant Program instrument needed maintenance, Paul pro- because he felt it was good for his children to at USDA–CSREES from 1988 to 1991 and vided hands-on repairs. He was also creative- experience new environments and learn to helped develop it into the National Research ly engaged in each research project, making adapt to new friends and schools. Initiative. In 1999, to support education and many suggestions for experiments while During his career, Paul coauthored, with research in the department he had founded, allowing students and postdocs the freedom John B. Neilands, two editions of Outlines of he and his wife Ruth endowed the Paul K. to follow their own intuition. Many of those Enzyme Chemistry and, with Eric Conn, five and Ruth R. Stumpf Professorship in Plant who trained with Paul have fond memories editions of the popular Outlines of Biochem- Biochemistry in the Section of Molecular of the atmosphere in the Stumpf lab as an istry. He also was coeditor-in-chief with and Cellular Biology at the University of Cal- excellent place to do science and of the Conn of the 16-volume treatise Biochemistry ifornia, Davis. relaxed social interactions that included trips of Plants. He authored numerous chapters in Twenty-two years of retirement permitted to the Stumpf cabin near Lake Tahoe. symposia volumes and served in an editorial the Stumpfs to enjoy numerous trips around In addition to his fundamental research capacity on several scientific journals. He the world. They loved to travel and partici- contributions, results from the Stumpf lab served on the program advisory committee pated in about 50 Elderhostel programs, laid the foundation for the genetic modifica- of the Palm Oil Research Institute of including one to Antarctica. Golf bags were tion of oilseeds to improve their fatty acid Malaysia from 1982 to 1991, as well as on the frequently packed on these trips, because composition. Paul was a key early adviser scientific advisory boards of Calgene and the Paul had what one daughter described as a and consultant for Calgene, the successful University of Maryland Biotechnology Cen- “hate–love” relationship with that sport. biotech company founded in Davis. Much of ter. He also served on numerous review and Paul Stumpf is survived by his wife Ruth the early success of Calgene in transgenic advisory panels for NIH, the National Sci- and five children and their spouses—Ann modification of the fatty acid composition of ence Foundation, and USDA. Shaw (Michael), Kathryn Fruh (Bill), Mar- canola rested on the groundbreaking charac- Paul was elected a member of the Nation- garet Noonan (Mark), David Stumpf terization and purification of acyl-ACP al Academy of Sciences in 1978 and the Royal (Susan), and Richard Stumpf (Patrice)—as desaturases and thioesterases that were car- Danish Academy of Sciences in 1975. He well as 11 grandchildren and one great ried out in Paul’s lab. received the Stephen Hales Prize from the grandson. Paul made full use of the sabbatical leave American Society of Plant Physiologists in Eric Conn policy of the University of California. His 1974, served as its president in 1980, and Professor Emeritus University of California, Davis first leave was spent with Bernard Horecker’s chaired its Board of Trustees from 1986 to group at the National Institutes of Health 1990. In 1992 he was awarded the Charles John Ohlrogge (NIH), where he used fluorescence to identi- Reid Barnes Life Membership by the society. Michigan State University fy a long-chain aldehyde as a product of Other awards were the Lipid Chemistry Prize alpha oxidation of long-chain fatty acids. from the American Oil Chemists Society, a

24 • ASPB News, Vol. 34, No. 3 Obituaries

Shang Fa Yang Laboratory. Shang Fa’s ear- This intensive effort culminated in 1979 Shang Fa Yang, emeritus pro- ly studies on ethylene were when Adams and Yang identified 1-aminocy- fessor at the University of Cali- assisted by the homemade clopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) as the fornia, Davis, passed away gas chromatograph that final precursor of ethylene. Surprisingly, ACC from complications of pneu- Pratt had cobbled together. had been known for a number of years as a monia on February 12, 2007, Although large and cum- nonprotein amino acid of unknown function at the age of 74. His death was bersome, that instrument and was available in crystalline form from a sudden and unexpected, leav- could measure the parts- number of chemical supply houses. Follow- ing his friends and colleagues per-million concentrations ing Adams and Yang’s identification of ACC mourning the loss of an out- of ethylene produced by as the ethylene precursor, interest in the standing scientist and mentor. plants and remained in use compound reached such an intensity that As the discoverer of the path- for over 35 years. Armed Sigma Chemical had to ration it for a time. way for the biosynthesis of with this tool and his Both the Yang and Kende laboratories ethylene and the namesake of broad knowledge of chem- quickly developed assays for ACC by chemi- the Yang Cycle for the regeneration of istry and biochemistry, Shang Fa set out to cally converting it to ethylene, and physiolog- methionine, which initiates this pathway, he explore plant ethylene biology. ical studies into the regulation of ethylene leaves a legacy of notable contributions to Since 1934, when ethylene was conclusive- biosynthesis accelerated. Shang Fa’s group plant biology. ly shown to be produced by ripening fruit, demonstrated that under low oxygen condi- Shang Fa Yang was born in 1932 in Taiwan, considerable effort had been expended to dis- tions, such as root flooding, ACC could where he received his BS and MS degrees in cover its biosynthetic pathway in plants. The accumulate and be transported in the xylem agricultural chemistry from the National modern search for the metabolic pathway to the shoot and subsequently converted to University in the late 1950s. He received a began in 1965, when Lieberman and Mapson ethylene, inducing the leaf epinasty charac- scholarship to do graduate work at Utah observed that methionine was converted to teristic of waterlogged plants. His group State University and received his PhD in ethylene in an in vitro model system. Within discovered that ACC could be conjugated to plant biochemistry there in 1962. He then a year, the same research group confirmed the malonate, resulting in an alternative pool of went to the University of California, Davis, biological production of ethylene from ACC in plant tissues. He also explored the where he did postdoctoral work with Dr. methionine. This discovery led many scien- use of various inhibitors, such as Paul K. Stumpf on lipid metabolism in high- tists around the world on a quest to identify aminoethoxyvinylglycine and cobalt ion, to er plants. (In an unfortunate coincidence, the subsequent steps in the pathway. Shang block the ethylene synthesis pathway at spe- Professor Stumpf passed away two days Fa’s first paper on ethylene in 1966 (one of cific steps. It had been noted that methionine before Shang Fa died.) Shang Fa was eager to more than 200 publications in his career) pools are too low in plant tissue to sustain see the East Coast and obtained a fellowship explored the intricacies of the in vitro model the observed rates of ethylene synthesis. to the New York University (NYU) Medical system for the generation of ethylene from Shang Fa and his students demonstrated that School, where he worked with Professor B. methionine, and his group made many the methylthio group released from SAM N. LaDu. He returned to California and to important contributions during this period. during the synthesis of ACC is recycled to plant biochemistry the next year as a post- In 1977, Shang Fa and his PhD student replenish methionine levels. The reactions of doctoral scientist with Andrew A. Benson at Douglas Adams showed that methionine was this recycling pathway were subsequently Scripps Institute of Oceanography in La Jol- converted to S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) christened the Yang Cycle in plant biochem- la, Calif. His stay on the East Coast was and that SAM was a precursor of ethylene. istry texts. rewarding personally, because that is where Doug Adams also discovered that when tis- Another contribution of his group was to he met his wife, Eleanor, who was studying sues were kept under low oxygen conditions, demonstrate that plant tissues preferentially accounting at NYU. a treatment known to suppress ethylene converted one of four ethyl-substituted iso- In 1966, Shang Fa was hired as an assis- biosynthesis and thereby promote posthar- mers of ACC to butene. As plant extracts tant biochemist in the Department of Veg- vest storage of fruits and vegetables, a meta- contained biologically irrelevant enzyme sys- etable Crops at the University of California, bolic intermediate accumulated. The pace tems that could generate ethylene from ACC, Davis. A strong advocate for his hiring was quickened, and a real race ensued among this observation provided an important cri- Harlan K. Pratt, a pioneering researcher in various labs, particularly that of Hans Kende terion that was used in the isolation of the ethylene physiology with whom he initially at Michigan State University, to identify the biologically relevant enzyme. As the tools shared a lab in the newly constructed Mann intermediate between SAM and ethylene. continued on next page

ASPB News, Vol. 34, No. 3 • 25 Obituaries continued from page 25 untenable in the face of experimental data. Academy of Sciences, USA, and to the Acade- became available to clone and characterize Shang Fa had an uncommon faith in mia Sinica, Taiwan, respectively. In 1991 he the genes responsible for the steps in ethyl- humanity and urged his students to always received the prestigious international Wolf ene biosynthesis, Shang Fa contributed to expect the best of people. The coupling of an Prize in Agriculture. many studies of the regulation of those genes affable nature and a genuine concern for his After taking early retirement from the in fruit ripening, plant growth, and wound- students and colleagues enabled Shang Fa to University of California in 1994, Shang Fa ing and stress responses. He wrote numerous assemble a powerful and effective research served as professor in the Department of reviews and book chapters on ethylene group that shared his vision and strove to Biology at Hong Kong University of Science biosynthesis and its role in plant biology that match his intensity. He also developed an and Technology from 1994 to 1997, where he defined this topic for a generation of plant extensive and international network of established an active research group, and as a biology students and researchers. friends and colleagues. Despite his many distinguished research fellow and the direc- In parallel with these fundamental discov- honors, he remained humble and was always tor of the Institute of Botany at Academia eries related to ethylene, Shang Fa also main- willing to share credit for the many discover- Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan. From 1996 to 1999, he tained ongoing and active research programs ies coming out of his lab or to acknowledge was vice president of the Academia Sinica on auxin metabolism and action, on the bio- the priority of other groups. and directed its numerous research institutes. logical effects of sulfite and sulfur dioxide, Shang Fa figured prominently at many Shang Fa is survived by his wife Eleanor and on cyanide generation and metabolism national and international research confer- and his two sons, Albert and Bryant, who in plants. In all his work, Shang Fa continual- ences over the years and served on the edito- have pursued careers in engineering and ly linked his discoveries to practical applica- rial boards of leading journals and as a mem- chemistry, respectively. His extensive network tions in postharvest biology and plant ber of several learned societies. He won of friends throughout the worldwide com- growth regulation. He used what he knew many awards and honors, including the munity of scholars and scientists will miss about physiology to learn more about ethyl- Campbell Award of the American Institute of him and regret his early passing. Although ene biosynthesis, and he applied what he Biological Sciences in 1969, a Guggenheim future plant biologists will know of Shang Fa learned about ethylene biosynthesis to con- Fellowship in 1982, the International Plant through the Yang Cycle and his many other tribute to improvements in postharvest stor- Growth Substances Association Research contributions to our field, students and col- age conditions. He was known for the clarity Award in 1985, and the Outstanding leagues who were fortunate enough to know of his thought and his ability to identify and Researcher Award from the American Society him personally will also remember his design critical experimental tests of hypothe- of Horticultural Science in 1992. He was humor, his humanity, and his sparkling intel- ses. Shang Fa always maintained an open named the University of California, Davis, lect. He will be greatly missed. mind and was willing to challenge accepted Faculty Research Lecturer in 1992. In 1990 Kent J. Bradford and Mikal E. Saltveit ideas, even his own, when they proved and 1992, he was elected to the National University of California, Davis

Important Dates in 2007 July 5–7 Laboratory Leadership Workshop, Chicago, Illinois http://www.aspb.org/meetings/pb-2007/labmanagement.cfm July 7–11 Plant Biology & Botany 2007 Joint Congress, Chicago, Illinois http://www.aspb.org/meetings/pb-2007/index.cfm September (date to be determined) Mid-Atlantic Section Crab Feast, ASPB Headquarters, Rockville, Maryland http://www.aspb.org/sections/washington/meetings.cfm

26 • ASPB News, Vol. 34, No. 3

ASPB Headquarters

For your convenience, keep this listing of extension numbers and e-mail addresses handy when you contact ASPB headquarters so that you can reach the person best able to assist you. Our office telephone number is 301-251-0560 Crispin Taylor / ext. 115 / ext. Crispin Taylor [email protected] 131 / ext. Donna Gordon [email protected] 110 / ext. Rosenberg Jean [email protected] 140 / ext. Kimnach Kim [email protected] 144 / ext. Pundu Jotee [email protected] 143 / ext. Liu-Kuan Stephanie [email protected] 141 / ext. Cholwek Suzanne [email protected] 122 / ext. Freed Carolyn [email protected] 114 / ext. Brian Hyps [email protected] 117 / ext. Winchester Nancy [email protected] 119 / ext. Long John [email protected] 120 / ext. Kessler Annette [email protected] 125 / ext. Csikos (Ash) Leslie [email protected] 123 Sahli / ext. Wendy [email protected] Missing journal issues Subscriptions, institutional and individual Plant Physiology (except missing issues) Disposition of a manuscript All other questions The Plant Cell (except missing issues) Disposition of a manuscript All other questions ASPB News Advertising Plant Physiology The Plant Cell ASPB News Membership Accounts payable Accounts receivable Accounts payable/receivable problems ASPB meetings Public affairs/government relations Education Society governance ASPB Education Foundation International issues Awards Biochemistry & Molecular Biology of Plants Website Online orders

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ASPB News (ISSN 1535-5489; Online ISSN 1544-9149) is published bimonthly by the American Society of Plant Biologists, 15501 Monona Drive, Rockville, MD 20855-2768 USA, telephone 301-251-0560, fax 301-279-2996. Members’ dues include a subscription price of $2 per year to ASPB News. Subscription price to nonmembers is $30 per year. Periodicals postage paid at Rockville, MD, and at additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Please send address changes to ASPB News, 15501 Monona Drive, Rockville, MD 20855-2768 USA.